Artist&#39;s box, easel and table



Aug. 24, 1965 Q. L. WILSON ARTISTS BOX, EASEL AND TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 5, 1963 FIG. IO

INVENTOR. Qa/rMA/v L. l mso/v A TTO/P/VE V5 Aug. 24, 1965 Q. WILSON ARTISTS BOX, EASEL AND TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1963 INVENTOR. OU/TMAM C. I/V/LSON ATTO/P/V' v5 5% WM aim Aug. 24, 1965 Q. L. WILSON 3,202,471

ARTISTS BOX, EASEL AND TABLE Filed Nov. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR.

\ BY Qa/rMAN A. lV/LSON %J Q 552% 77% 'flld! A TTGRA E V5 United States Patent 3,292,471 ARTISTS BOX, EASEL AND TABLE Quitrnan L. Wilson, 725 16th fit, Eureka, Calif. Filed Nov. '5, 1963, See. No. 321,618 11 Claims. (El. 312--23i) This invention relates to artists equipment generally, and more specifically to an artists box, and has for its main object of the provision of a box that is compact and easily carried by one hand of the artist, and which box includes an extensible ease-l, table, compartment for supplies, and extensible and collapsible legs adapted to support the box and table horizontal at different heights above the ground, and which box, easel and table are collapsible to a collapsed position in which the legs are wholly concealed within a space that is within the confines of the projected outline of the box and in which position the table and box form a suit-case-like unit with the easel collapsed and closely alongside the box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an artists box that is in two separable parts, one of which includes an easel, storage compartment for paints, brushes and the like, and palette, while the other includes a base on which the artists box is adapted to be supported, and to which the box is adapted to be secured, and which base also includes a table and collapsible legs that are adapted to support the base and table horizontal with the base exposed for supporting the painters box with table offset to one side of the base.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an artist's easel including extensible and collapsible legs therefor for supporting the easel at any desired height, and which easel, including a canvas thereon in painting position, is adapted to be removed from the legs without disturbing the latter, and positioned elsewhere and late replaced on the legs and secured thereto or the legs may be collapsed and secured to the easel and the easel collapsed to provide a compact unit that may be carried like a suitcase.

An added object of the invention is the provision of a painters box, having a carrying handle, and an easel on said box, including supporting legs, and which legs may be swung relative to the box from a collapsed position at one side of the box, to a vertically extended position in which the box is supported horizontal on the upper ends of the legs with the easel above the box, and extended upwardly for supporting a board or canvas to be painted upon, and which legs and easel may be collapsed and the canvas held to the easel alongside the box for carrying with the box by means of the carrying handle without disturbing wet paint on the canvas or removing the canvas.

The combination of a painters box having an easel and collapsible legs is not new. However, most equipment of this type is complicated and is difiicult to set up and to collapse, and no provision is made for Working surfaces beyond what is provided in or directly above the box itself, and also heretofore the legs are exposed when collapsed and when the box is in carrying position. Furthermore, the easel, box and legs are secured together so that the canvas must be removed from the easel to move the canvas to a different position for viewing the picture, or else the legs must be moved with the box and easel to the new position whereas with the present invention the canvas and easel may be quickly disconnected from the legs as a unit together with the paint and palette carrying portion of the box to provide a stable, horizontal base for supporting the easel and canvas in the view position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combination painters box, easel and box and easel-supporting legs, in which the box is in two parts, separa'bly connected with each other but that are adapted to be carried as a unit, or carried separately, one of which parts carries the legs for the box and easel and provides a work table, and the other part of which box is adapted to carry the paints and other supplies and also the easel and the canvas to be painted upon.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and claims.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the combination of parts forming the present invention, which parts are set up ready for positioning the board or canvas to be painted upon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the invention disclosed in FIG. 1 in collapsed position, but in which some of the parts shown in FIG. 1 are concealed within one of the boxes that is shown in collapsed position in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a reduced size side elevati-onal view of the equipment shown in FIG. 1 in collapsed, carrying position, the near side of the view being the bottom or undermost side of the equipment shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the equipment shown in FIG. 3 as seen from the right-hand end of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the leg-carrying compartment of the combination of FIG. 2 when the compartment is opened to disclose the legs therein.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the paint, easel, and palette carrying compartment showing the palette in extended position in full line, while the dot-dash lines show the position of the palette within the box.

FIG. 7 is a simplified end view of the box and equipment shown in FIG. 4, eliminating certain details shown in FIG. 4, and showing a canvas or board carried by the easel when the equipment is collapsed.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged elevational view of a portion of one of the legs of the equipment that is shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary cross-sectional views of leg mounting and stop means.

In detail, the box is in two sections generaly designated 1 and 2 (FIGS. 2, 4). In FIG. 4 the box is shown upright in carrying position, the two sections being releasably secured together by quick releasable connectors 3, such as conventional sash connectors in which a hook-like element 4 of each connector is secured to one of the box sections and a rotary cam member 5 is secured to the other section. Preferably a pair of such connectors is at one end of the box sections and one is at the opposite end. When the sections are fiat together the cam members are rotated in one direction by finger engagement with a projection 6 on each cam member and the members 5 engage the hook elements with progressively tightening effect to thereby tightly hold the sections firmly together as a unit. Rota tion of the members 5 in the opposite direction will completely free the members 5 from the hook elements 4 so the box sections are free for separation one from the other.

Sections 1, 2 are respectively provided with suitcase handles 7, 3 that are opposite to each other along correspondingly positioned sides of the sections, and spaced apart, so the sections may be carried separately when they are separated, or the sections may be manually carried by either handle, when the box sections are connected.

The sections 1, 2 are substantially the same size in outline, being rectangular, and the outer walls of the sections will first be described as they appear when the device is on its side as seen in FIG. 1 or 2 with the easel uppermost, and the words forward and rear and words of similar import will be used with respect to the painters position, the forward sides or ends of the box sections being rear sides or ends v(FIG. 2) to the forward edge of wall 9,, the rearwall 13 ;of section 1 (FIG. 2) is opposed to front' wall and is rigid with wall 9 and with opposed, relatively narrow .side walls 14, (FIGS. 1, 2), while section 1 has a bottom wall 16 (FIG. 6) that is-opposite to and parallel with top Wall. Walls 9, 16 are rigid with the side walls 14, 15 and with end wall 13, while the front end wall 10, shown in open position in FIG. 1 is. adapted to close the open front end of the box sectionl andis adapted to be releasably held in closed position by hooks 17 carried by side walls 14, 15 and pins 18 on the ends of the wall 10,- which pins are releasably engaged by the hooks.

Side wall 15 (FIG. 1) -swingab ly carries an arm that is pivotally secured at 20 (FIGS. 1, 7) to said wall 15 for swinging. from the position shown in'FIG. 1, extending longitudinally of'wall 15 to a position projecting outwardly of the sectionl at a right angle -to the length of wall 15 I on the edges of extension 36 are slidably held in opposedly opening recesses 38 (FIG. 2) in the opposite sides of the (FIG. 7) for engagement by the lower edge of a canvas 22 that is adapted to beheld on the easel when the box section 1 is in carrying position, as will later be described more in detail. Any suitable projections 23, (FIG. 1), are also carried on side wall 15 to function aslegs in combination with arm 19 to support section -1 when it is vertically disposed in carrying position.

A pair of parallel guide strips 24 are secured to top wall 9 along the two side edges (FIGS. 1, 2) which strips are rabbitted along their adjacent sides and the sides that are secured to top Wall 9 to provide, in effect, a pair of op- .posedly opening channels in whichtheends of a cross member 25 (FIG. 1) are slidable longitudinally of said guides or guide strips 24. :Hingedly'connected to cross member 25 by hinges 26, (FIG. 4) is a cross bar 27. This cross bar is parallel with the cross member 25 and one end of the back 28 of the easel, generally designated 29,

(FIG. 1) is rigidly secured to cross bar 27 at apoint centrally between the ends of the latter. The easel back 28 is elongated and extends longitudinally; of the guide strips 24 and parallel therewith when the easel is in collapsed position as seenin FIG. 2.

Also rigid with cross member 25, and positioned centrally between and parallel with guide strips 24, is an elongated easel supportingelement 30 (FIG. 1). The forward end of said element 30 is rigidly connected with the cross member 25, and a tubular guide 31 rigid with the top 9 adjacent to the rear end of said top slidably holds element 30 adjacent to wall 9 for sliding said element longitudinally thereof. a

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the easel may be moved bodily on the upper box section 1 relative to and between the front and rear sides of said section.

An easel leg-33 (FIG. 1) extends longitudinally of the element 30 and betwen said element and theeasel back 28 when the easel is in the collapsed positionshown in FIG. 2, and the forward end of this leg is hingedly connected to the easel back 28 at its forward end, and to a slide 34 (FIG. 1) at its rear end, which slide, inturn, is slidably supported on the element 30 rearwardly of the tubular guide 31. A set screw 35 (FIGS. 2, 3) threadedly extends through a side of slide 34 and into engagement with element 30 for securing the rearend of the easel leg 33 in adjusted position on element 30 for holding the easel back 28 in the desired angular position relative t horizontal, when the box is .set up for use. i

' The upper side of the easel back 28 may be recessed longitudinallythereof to provide a recess in which an for movement of said extension 36 longitudinally of said recess and of the back 28. Flanges (FIGS. 1, 2) formed upper easel. extension 36 is adapted to beslidably held a longitudinally extending recess in member 28 in which the extension is positioned. The bottom of the said recess in member 28 in which extension 36 is positioned, is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 39 (FIG. 1) that is in register with a similarly extending slot 40 in extension 36 when the easel is in collapsed position (FIG. 2).

A bolt 42 extends throughslot 39, and centrally through an elongated lower canvas shelf 43 that extends across the back 28 at a right angle thereto; A wing'nut 44 on the outer end of said bolt is adapted to be tightened against shelf 43 or against a washer on the bolt .42 that is between said bolt and said shelf. This shelf has back enclosing bracket 45 rigid therewith (FIG. 2) that extends aroundthe back 28 so as to hold the shelf at a right angle to said back, and the head of bolt 42 may be secured to said bracket. i r 1 By, the above structure, when nut 44 is loosened, the shelf 43 may be slid along back 28 to the desired height.

A head piece 46 (FIGSpl, 2) extends across the forward surface of the upper easel extension 36 when the easel is in'upright'position, or across the upper surface of the extension when the easel is collapsed.

Head piece 46 is elongated and extends at a right angle to extension 36 and parallel to the lower shelf 43.

A bolt 47 extends through the head piece 46 centrally thereof and through slot 41), and this piece may also have a bracket corresponding to bracket 45, but extending around extension 36, and the head of bolt 47 may be secured thereto, while a :wing nut 48 on the outer end of said bolt 47 will tighten against a washer that is between .the nut and extension 36for adjustablysecuring the head piece 46 at any desired position along theextension 36. The head piece 46 and the shelf 43 have flanges along their forward faces (FIG. 1) or along their upper sides (FIG. 2) for retaining a canvas between said head piece and shelf against sliding off the shelf or falling away from the head piece, yet canvases or boards of any size from small to large may be held on the easel. Y

The structure of the easel is such that the easel, when in use or set up for use as seen in FIG. 1, maybe bodily slid away from the'painter, if desired, therebyiproviding additional working space on top 9 between the canvas and the painter, and also enabling the painter to obtain a longer view of the canvas without changing his position.

The angle of the easel may be changed as desired, from a forwardly tilted position, such as is desirable in many instances to avoid glare on the painting, to a vertical or rearwardly tilted position. The box section 1, which carries the heavy paints and other supplies, provides a weighted base that is adequate to counteract any tendency of the canvas to forwardly upset the easel when the easel is tilted forwardly.

It is pertinent to note that the easel'may be collapsed to the positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 without removing the canvas, and by sliding the canvas relative to the head piece 46 and shelf 43 to the position seen in FIG. 7, the leg or arm 19 may be swung outwardly to provide a support for the .canvas, and the artist may then carry the box and canvas as a unit by either of the handles 7 or 8.

Since the painting faces outwardly, it will not touched by any part of theequipment.

'The hinged front wall 10 is the closure for the interior of the section 1, and slidably holds a drawer 47 (FIG. 1) having one or more hand pulls thereon for withdrawing the drawer. The drawer may be divided by partitions into any desired number of compartments for holding the brushes, tubes of paint, and any other supplies, such as containers for oil and turpentine, etc. The contents are exposed for access thereto upon pulling the drawer out of the open front side of the box when the wall 10 is swung upward. e A conventional rectangular palette 48may be slidably supported in opposedly opening grooves formed in the side walls 14, in a position over drawer 47 for withdrawal from the box. If desired, one or more sets of other grooves corresponding to those supporting the palette, may be provided above or below the grooves in which the palette is supported, and such other grooves may slidably support conventional canvas covered boards for painting.

A horizontal partition 5% (FIG. 1) supports the drawer 47 thereon, and this partition is spaced above the bottom wall 16 of partition 1. Pivotally secured at Sll (FIG. 6) to said bottom wall, and in a position betwen the latter and partition 56, is a relatively thin panel 52 that is adapted to partially project outwardly of a slot 53 (FIG. 2) formed in the side wall 1 when the panel is within the box section 1. This panel provides a table that is adapted to project outwardly of the side wall i4 a distance substantially equal to the horizontal width of the box section 1 when it is swung outwardly (FIG. 6) and when so swung the panel may project forwardly of the box section to function as a palette on which the paint is more readily accessible to the artist than were the panel to terminate even with the front side of the box section when withdrawn. Preferably the slot 53 is of sufiicient vertical depth to enable paint on the panel to clear the upper edge of the slot 53 when the panel is swung into the box section.

As best seen in FIG. 4 the projecting portion of panel 52 is positioned between and spaced from handles 7, 8 when the box sections 1, 2 are together for carrying said sections; hence, either of the handles may be grasped by the hand.

It is seen from the foregoing explanation that the box section 1, when separated from the section 2, may be positioned on a stool, table or on the floor, and the easel may be swung upwardly to support the canvas, and also the palette or panel 52 may be swung outwardly for use. Also the drawer 47 is accessible. However, the box section 2 not only provides a base or support for the section 1, but it carries legs that are adapted to support section 1 at exactly the level desired by the artist, whether the latter is seated or is standing, and it also provides a table adapted to carry the artists brushes, and other equipment and supplies.

The box section 2 comprises a pair of compartments generally esignated S4, 55 (FIG. 5) hinged together at So for swinging to positions in a horizontal plane in which the open sides of the compartments face in the same direction. Compartment 54 has a rectangular bottom wall 57 that substantially corresponds in outline and size to the bottom wall 16 of the box section 1, and this bottom wall 57 is substantially against the bottom wall 16 when the box sections are secured toget er. Side walls 58, 59 and end walls 6t), 61 provide the sides and ends of compartment 54.

Side walls 58, 59, respectively, are coplanar with side walls 14, 15 and end Walls 69, 61 are substantially repectively coplanar with end walls it), 13 when the sections 1, 2 are connected except that the hinged front wall it; may project outwardly of the wall as a distance approximately equal to the thickness of wall 10.

The cam members 5 of the connectors are secured on end walls 66, 51, there being one on wall 60 about midway between the ends thereof and two on wall 61.

The compartment 55 has a bottom wall 64 that cor responds in outline and size to bottom wall 57 of com partment 54-, and this wall 64- forms the side of the assembly that is outermost and opposite to the wall 9 when the box sections are secured together (FIG. 3).

End walls 65, c6, and side walls 67, as form the four walls of the compartment 55. End walls 65, 66 are respectively coplanar with walls no, 61 and side walls 67, 68 are respectively coplanar with walls 58, 59 when the compartments 5-4, 55 are swung to closed position to cooperate for defining the walls or" the box section 2.

6 Hooks 69 pivotally secured on side wall 58 (FIG. 2) releasably engage pins 79 on side wall ei'to hold the compartments together.

When the section 2 is opened, as seen in FIG. 5, the extensible legs for use in supporting the section 2 and the box section It, at the desired distance above the ground are exposed.

Three legs are in compartment 54, which is substantially deeper than compartment 55, which legs are generally designated 72, 73, 74, the leg 72 comprising a pair of spaced, opposed, parallel leg strips 75, one of the corresponding ends of which are at opposite sides of a block 76, which block, in turn, is secured within compartment 54 to the bottom 57 thereof at a point midway between side walls 58, 59 and adjacent to, but spaced from the end wall 61. A bolt 77 pivotally connects the ends of strips '75 to block 76 for swinging the outer ends of the latter to positions extending outwardly of the cornpartment. A stop member 78 (FIGS. 5, 9) is secured to the end wall 61 adjacent to block '76 and member 78 is spaced outwardly of the bottom 57 a greater distance than pivot 72 so that the leg strips when swung outwardly will engage the stop member 78 (FIG. 9) to restrict the swinging thereof to the desired downwardly and outwardly inclined position relative to compartment 57 when the latter is inverted so its open side faces downwardly.

An intermediate leg section 79 (FIGS. 5, 8) is pivotally secured at one end between, and to leg strips 75 at the ends of the latter that are opposite to bolt 77, Bolt 80 so secures said one end between and to said leg strips 75 and it also pivotally secures one end of a brace section 86 to said leg strips and leg section 79.

The leg section 7% telescopically encloses a third extensible leg 82 that carries a bolt extending through a slot $3 (FIGS. 5, 8) formed in a side of section 79. A thumb nut 84 (FIG. 5) on said bolt is adapted to be tightened against section 79 for releasably holding the extension 82 at any desired degree of extension from section 79.

By the above structure, section 79 may be swung about pivot fill to be in outward extension of the leg-strips 75, and if further extension is desired the leg section 82 may be withdrawn the desired distance, and then tightened by tightening nut 84.

The bolt Sil (FIG. 5) also pivotally extends through one end of a brace member 84, the other end of which is pivotally connected at 85 to one end of a second brace member 86. The end of brace member 86 that is opposite to the pivot 85 is connected by a pivot 87 to a bracket 33 that is secured to bottom 57.

The leg section 79 projects past the pivot bolt 8b a substantial distance, as at 89 (FIGS. 5, 8) and this extension of the leg is formed with a transversely extending opening 9th.

When the leg section 79 is swung outwardly to extended position relative to the leg-strips 75, the opening 9d is in registration with aligned openings 91 formed in the leg-strips 75, and a bolt 92 (FIG. 8) may he slipped through openings 90, )1 to positively, but releasably, lock the leg section 79 in extended position.

The brace member 86 also carries a stop member 93 (FIG. 8) that is adapted to be engaged by the leg brace 84 when the leg braces 84, 86 are in extended position and the legs are in box supporting position.

With reference to legs '73, 74, these are the same in structure, and :are substantially the same as the leg 72 in that each has leg-strips 4 that substantially correspond to leg strips 75, except for the openings 91 and each has an intermediate leg section therebetween that is pivotally connected at one end to the leg-strips 94 by a bolt d6 for swinging of section 95 to extended position relative to the leg-strips 94. A stop member 97 (FIG. 1) is secured to one side of the portion of the intermediate leg section 95 and that projects past the pivot as and projects oppositely outwardly from said leg section to engage the leg-strips 94 when the leg sections 95 are in extended posi tion, instead of employment of locking bolt 80, since the legs 73, 74 will not collapse when leg 72 is locked against collapseand when legs 73, 74 are in divergently outwardly extending positon at the forward side of the box 1 as seen in FIG. 1. The stop members 97 prevent the leg sections 95 and leg-strips 94 from buckling inwardly when the legs 73, 74 are extended.

Each of the leg sections 95 telescopically encloses an extensible leg 98 and and a tightening nut 99 for locking theextensible leg 98 in adjusted position, the same as the extensible leg 82 of leg 72 is held. 7

Instead of the stop block 78 that restricts outward swinging of leg 72, stop blocks 100 are secured inside the compartment 57 at each corner opposite to the end wall 61 (FIG. and the ends of each pair of leg strips 94 that are opposite to pivots or bolts 96 are pivotally connected by pivots 102 to a block 103, the relationship between each block 103 and each stop block or stop member 100 being similar to the relation between stop member 78 and leg 72. a i v Within compartment 55 is a single leg 103 that is substantially of the same structure as leg 72 except that it does not use a locking bolt, such as at 92 nor are the legstrips and the leg section that is pivoted thereto provided with openings for such' bolt. Instead, a stop member 104 the same as stop member 97 on legs 73, 74 are used, and instead of using the stop blocks, such as at 78 or 100, leg braces 105, 106 of structure corresponding to that of braces 84, 86 connect the leg 103 with a bracket 107 to hold the leg 103 in the desired box supporting position (FIG. 1). n v It should be noted that on the outer side of the bottom wall 64 a panel 108 (FIGS. 1, 3) is provided, which panel is slidably supported between guide strips 109, which,.in turn are secured on the bottom wall 64. This panel is formed with a pair of openings 110 in which any suitable receptacles 111, 112 may be supported where the panel 108 is drawn forwardly as seen in FIG. 1. Receptacle 111, for example, is a flexible, bag-likereceptacle adapted to depend from panel 108 by a stiffened ring around the mouth of the receptacle, and the brushes 113 are adapted to be supported upright therein, while receptacle 112may be a pan to hold a liquid. The pan is shallow and may be removed and placed in the compartment 54 when the compartments 54, 55 are closed to contain the legs, and the receptacle 111' may also be collapsed and removed for storage in compartment 54.

When the easel is collapsed and compartments 54, 55 are closed and the box sections 1, 2 are secured together, any suitable band 115 (FIG. 2) elasticor otherwise, may secure the rigid, easel carrying element and the easel extension 36 together, the latter being carried by the easel back 28. Thus, the easel is held against swinging away from the wall 9 of the box. section 1.

In operation, the box sections 1 and 2 may be quickly separated and the section 2 opened so as to obtain access to legs 72, 73, 74. The legs are then'quickly outfolded and the leg 72 locked against collapse.

When section 2 is then supported on the ground by the legs, the section 1 may be positioned onsection 2 as seen in FIG. 1 and they may be locked together.

The easel may then be erected, and the drawer 47 drawn out to provide access to the brushes, paint, etc. Palette 52 may also be swung outwardly, and when the canvas is supportedon the easel the artist is ready to proceed.

An added convenience may be the provision of a ring 114 (FIGS. 1, 5) swingably suspended from an eye 115 in the box section 2 adjacent to the wall 65 of compartment 55; This ring is adapted to hold a towel or cloth 116 suspended from the ring when the later depends from the eye 115. The ring may be releasably held against the bottom 64 by a spring catch 117 adapted to swing about a pivot 118 that is carried by said bottom wall.

a 8 It is obvious that the legs may, if desired, be extended While the sections 1, 2 are secured'together, but it is more convenient to separate the section when the legs'areto be extended.

The separability of the two sections is desirable since it permits theartist to quickly remove the box section 1 includingthe easel and a'canvas thereon, from the legs and section 2, to position the section 1 on a table or at some other place without disturbing the legs. Thus, in the event of a shower or the like, the artist may quickly move the painting and box 2 to a protected spot where he can continue work, and when the shower passes, the box and painting are quickly restored to the original location.

The provision of a base, such as compartment 55 of box section 2, for the easel is essential for the stability of the easel.

I claim:

1. An artists box comprising:

(a) A rectangular box having vertically disposed side and end walls and horizontally disposed top and bottom walls closing the upper and lower sides of said box;

(b) said box comprising a lower part that includes said bottom wall and a portion of said side and end walls adjoining it, and an upper part that includes said top wall and the side and end walls above said lower part; V

(c) a hinge connecting said lower part with said upper part for swinging said lower part to a horizontally disposed offset position at one side ofsaid upper part;

((1) a plurality of horizontally disposed legs above said bottom wall within the confines of said side and end walls;

(e) pivotmeans connecting one of the the ends of each of said legs to said upper part at spaced points for swinging said legs to positions extending divergently downwardly from points respectively adjacent to said side and end walls for supporting said upper part above the ground;

(f) a bottom-supporting-leg also disposed horizontally within the confines of said side and end walls and above said bottom wall;

(g) means swingably connecting one end of said bottom-supporting-leg with said lower part at a point remote from said hinge when said lower part is swung to said oifset position for supporting said lower part from the ground in said offset position when said plurality of legs support said upper part horizontally above the ground; I

(h) an easel on said top wall above the latter;

(i) easel pivot means on said upper part swingably supporting said easel for swinging of the latter from a substantially horizontal position over said top wall to an upright position extending upwardly therefrom for supporting a canvas or board thereon in painting position. a

i. 2. In a box as defined in claim 1,

(j) said upper part including a horizontally disposed wall spaced between said lower part and said top wall and connected with the side and end walls of said upper part whereby the side and end walls of said upper part will project below said horizontally disposed wall to define the side and end walls of a downwardly opening compartment when said lower part is in said oilset position;

(k) said plurality of legs being wholly Within said compartment when said lower part is in a position below said upper part, and said bottom supporting leg being wholly disposed within the portion of said side and end walls of said lower part, when said lower part is in said last-mentioned position thereof.

3. In a box as defined in claim 2, (1) a horizontally disposed drawer for brushes, paints and the like in said upper part between said horizontally disposed wall and said top wall, a wall section of one of said end walls extending over one side of said drawer;

(m) means swingably supporting said last-mentioned wall section for swinging to a position uncovering said drawer to provide an opening in said one of said end walls for withdrawal of said drawer through said opening.

4. In a box as defined in claim 3,

(11) said easel pivot-means being on said top wall adjacent to said one of said end walls supporting said easel for swinging upwardly from a point adjacent to said one end wall and in a vertical plane parallel with said side walls to support such canvas or board thereon, when in its upright position, generally facing the end of said box from which said drawer is adapted to be withdrawn.

5. In a box as defined in claim 1,

(j) said box being divided horizontally into an upper box section and a lower box section wholly seperable from each other;

(k) an upper horizontal wall and a lower horizontal wall adjacent to each other, spaced between said top wall and said lower part respectively secured to said upper box section and said lower box section and respectively defining the lower wall of said upper box section and the upper wall of said lower box section, and said side and end walls including intermediate portions extending from the edges of said upper wall to said portions of the side and end walls of said lower part;

(1) securing means respectively on said upper box section and said lower box section releasably securing them together, as a unit, a drawer slidaoly supported on said lower wall for horizontal sliding;

(m) one of said end walls being formed with an opening through which said drawer is slidable, and

(n) a closure for said opening supported on said upper box section for movement relative to said opening for movement from a position closing the latter to a position uncovering said opening, and vice versa.

6. In a box as defined in claim 1,

(j) one of said side walls being formed with an opening, at the side of said upper part opposite to said lower part when the latter is in the offset position;

(k) a horizontal palette positioned within said upper part below said top wall supported for movement through said opening to an extended horizontally disposed position projecting outwardly from said upper part to said side of said lower part opposite to said upper part when the latter is in its said offset position;

(1) means on said upper part securing said palette thereto against separation therefrom and in a position supporting said palette in its said extended horizontally disposed position.

7. In a box as defined in claim l,

(j) means on said easel for securing such canvas or board thereto for swinging therewith from said upright position to said substantially horizontal position and vice versa, and

(k) picture supporting means on said lower section supported thereon adjacent to one of said side walls for movement to a position extending outwardly therefrom and across an edge of such canvas or board when said upper and said lower parts are together and said parts including said top and bottom walls are vertical with said one of said side walls lowermost, and

(l) a handle on said upper part and on the side wall that is uppermost when said top and bottom walls are vertical and said picture supporting means is lowermost for manually carrying said parts including canvas or board on said easel, as a unit.

8. In a box as defined in claim ll,

(j) equipment supporting means on said lower part supported on said lower part for movement from a position substantially wholly within the vertically projected confines of the outline of said bottom wall to a position projecting a substantial distance horizontally projecting therefrom, and vice versa, for supporting artists equipment thereon,

(k) said lower part being relatively thin, vertically, relative to the vertical dimension of said upper part, and said lower part being spaced below level of said top wall when said lower part is in its said ofiset position at one side of said upper part.

9. An artists box comprising:

(a) A pair of opposed vertical end walls and a pair of opposed vertical side walls and a horizontal top and bottom wall defining the sides and top and bottom of a rectangular box;

(b) said box being divided horizontally into an upper box section and a lower box section, having substantially correspondingly positioned portions of said side and end walls;

(c) a plurality of horizontally disposed legs within said lower box section;

(d) means swingably connecting a pair of said legs at one of their ends to said lower box section at widely spaced points respectively spaced above said bottom wall and adjacent to the side walls thereof at one end wall and adjacent to the end wall opposite to said one end wall when said bottom wall is in closed position for downward swinging of said legs to the ground for supporting said lower box section above the ground when said bottom wall is in open posi- "on at one side of said lower box section;

(e) means swingably connecting said bottom wall to one of the side walls of said lower section for swinging from a position below said legs when the latter are horizontally disposed within said lower box section, to a horizontal position offset laterally to one side of said lower box section thereby exposing said plurality of legs for swinging downwardly to the ground;

(f) a horizontally disposed easel above said top wall including means thereon for securing a painting canvas thereto;

(g) means pivotally connecting one end of said easel to said top wall for swinging said easel from its horizontally extending position to different angularly upwardly extending positions relative to said top wall, and means on said upper box section for supporting said easel in any of said angularly upwardly extending positions;

(h) quick releasable means for releasably securing said upper box section to said lower box section whereby said upper box section and said lower box section and said legs coact to provide a rigid broad base support for supporting said easel above the ground, and whereby said upper box section including said easel and a painting canvas thereon may be quickly removed therefrom without changing the position of said lower section, and again connected with said lower box section in identically the same position as before the removal of said upper box section.

Iii. In the combination as defined in claim 9,

(i) a horizontally disposed leg above said bottom wall when the latter is in a horizontal position closing the lower end of said lower box section and concealing said plurality of legs; whereby said plurality of legs and said horizontally disposed leg are fully enclosed within said lower box section;

(j) means pivotally connecting one end of said horizontal leg with said bottom wall at a point adjacent to the side wall of said lower box section that is remote from the latter when said bottom wall is swung to said horizontal position offset to one side of said 11 lower box section for downward swinging to a position supporting said bottom wall above the ground in its said offset position whereby said bottom wall will be held against swinging and will provide a table at one side of said lower box section and easel for supporting painting equipment and will further staposite to said bottom wall when the latter is in its horizontal oflset position whereby the latter will Reterences Cited by the Examiner bilize said lower and upper box sections and said 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS easel when said upper box section 1s secured to said lower box Section. 1,065,255 6/13 Kuhrt 312 231 1 1. In the combination as defined in claim 10, 1,408,631 1/24 Osborn (k) a horizontally disposed palette spaced between 10 2,638,397 5/53 Wykofi -'----V 1 said bottom wall and said top wall; 2,751,271 6/56 'Dessertenne et al 3127-231 (1) means pivotally connecting said palette with said 2, 97,032 7/59 Kremer 312231 upperbox section for swinging about a vertical axis 3,004,361 10/61 Johnson 312231 'from a position substantially enclosed within'said 3,031,247 4/62 Schieve 312--231 upper box section to a laterally projecting horizontal 15 position projecting from the side of said box op- FRANK BJSHERRY, Primary Examiner; 

1. AN ARTIST''S BOX COMPRISING: (A) A RECTANGULAR BOX HAVING VERTICALY DISPOSED SIDE AND AND WALLS AND HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS CLOSING THE UPPER AND LOWER SIDES OF SAID BOX; (B) SAID BOX COMPRISING A LOWER PART THAT INCLUDES SAID BOTTOM WALL AND A PORTION OF SAID SIDE AND ENDS WALLS ADJOINING IT, AND AN UPPER PART THAT INCLUDES SAID TOP WALL AND THE SIDE AND END WALLS ABOVE SAID LOWER PART; (C) A HINGE CONNECTING SAID LOWER PART WITH SAID UPPER PART FOR SWINGING SAID LOWER PART TO A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED OFFSET POSITION AT ONE SIDE OF SAID UPPER PART; (D) A PLURALITY OF HORIZONTALY DISPOSED LEGS ABOVE SAID BOTTOM WALL WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID SIDE AND END WALLS; (E) PIVOT MEANS CONNECTING ONE OF THE THE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID LEGS TO SAID UPPER PART AT SPACED POINTS FOR SWINGING SAID LEGS TO POSITIONS EXTENDING DIVERGENTLY DOWNWARDLY FROM POINTS RESPECTIVELY ADJACENT TO SAID SIDE AND END WALLS FOR SUPPORTING SAID UPPER PART ABOVE THE GROUND; 